Whitby Gazette, 8th March 1879
Death of Mr John Howgego. In our obituary this week is announced the death of Mr John Howgego, at the advanced age of 86 years. His death took place at West Hartlepool, on Wednesday last. Mr Howgego was highly respected. In early life he was engaged in smuggling, and, like others of his class, was taken by what was then called the 'Preventive service' - now H.M. Coastguards - and joined the service. They were removed from station to station, and eventually he was sent from Harwich to Whitby some 60 years ago, where, with the exception of twice residing at the Sandsend station, he lived until he removed to Hartlepool, in connection with the Port of Hull Society, for which he was 12 years an agent. His efforts to promote the welfare of the seagoing community were earnest and continuous , and spread over a great many years.
Hull Packet, 16th December 1864.
(Extract from a very long report about the 43rd anniversary of ' this noble institution' the Port of Hull Society).
Mr John Howgego, the resident agent of the society at West Hartlepool, reported that his labours had been of a very cheering character. His visits on board ship were 979; ditto to the sick, 97; held prayer meetings, 165; made addresses, 86; sold forty copies of the scriptures, 8 English and 32 foreign; distributed tracts, English, 6,174; ditto foreign 524.
